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There's no two ways about it, Majorca is the holiday destination for British cyclists right now. But why do they flock in their tens of thousands to this, the largest of the Balearic islands, each year?

Pedro Delgado, the Spaniard who won the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in the late 1980s, says it's simple: "In Majorca you can find everything," he tells me. "It's very close to Britain, it's only a short flight.

The road to Cap de FormentorCredit:
M. Schoenfeld

"Majorca is a special place to cycle because the weather is good and you can find flat terrain or mountains; Majorca offers riders of different abilities good opportunities. I think it's a perfect place to ride.

"When I was I professional, I used to come here for our team training camp in January, it's where we planned for the season. You see it still nowadays with many professional teams still coming to Majorca in the early part of the season. Majorca's a perfect location to start the season because the weather is warm and there are good routes to ride."

The island is a popular pre-season training base for professional cyclists Credit:
2016 Getty Images/Bryn Lennon

Indeed, having visited and ridden around the island on numerous occasions one thing that is always strikes is its variety. While Tenerife remains a playground for pure climbers and Gran Canaria, too, a favourite with the mountain goats, the beauty of Majorca, for riders of all levels, is its accessibility: there are few climbs here that will prove too difficult for the average rider.

It is the north of the island – from Port de Pollença and Alcúdia south along the coastal road towards Playa de Muro – where most cyclists base themselves during their stays on the island. And with good reason.

With easy access to the Serra de Tramuntana range of mountains, the popular ride to Cap de Formentor – the most northern point on the island – and the flatter routes south of Sa Pobla towards Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, the north is the perfect base.

Local hoteliers, unsurprisingly, have welcomed the new-breed of British tourist to their island with open arms.

"The type of tourist we used to attract in and around Alcúdia wanted to drink and party all night, nowadays they are more focused on health, fitness and enjoying Majorca – all of it, not just the bars and beaches," explains Miquel Pericàs of the Viva Hotels group. "Of course, there's still Magaluf for those that want to party, but here in Alcúdia it's much quieter than it was 15 years ago."

Alcudia attracts cyclists - rather than those looking to drink and party all nightCredit:
FOTOLIA/FELIP GELABERT VIDAL

Pericàs, whose hotel group regularly houses the British Cycling squad and Team Sky during training camps on the island, understands the need better than most for attention to detail.

Though just one of the hundreds of hotels aimed at the estimated 150,000 cyclo-tourists that head to Majorca each year, Viva Hotels set the standard. From secure bike storage facilities that are monitored 24/7 through to bike-washing facilities, on-site mechanics and in-house shops stocking branded kit, tools, inner tubes and whatever else the cyclist abroad needs, Viva Hotels has it covered. They even supply small packed lunches for riders each morning.

With an industry that is worth around €150 million according to a recent European Union-funded study it is little surprise that where there were once bars selling mojitos by the bucket load, there are now bike shops. Lots of them; good ones too.

Whether you are after a children's bike, a hybrid, an electric bike a mountain bike or a road bike you will not have to wander far before finding somewhere. Though during high season – March to May – it's advisable to book online before travelling.

But it's the roads that attracts the thousands of riders to the island each year for the monstrous sounding – but wholly manageable for any half-decent amateur – Mallorca 312 cyclo-sportive.

Originally conceived in 2010 when 199 intrepid riders set off for a single 312-kilometre lap of the island, Majorca 312 has rapidly grown and in 2016 attracted 4,500 riders – with approximately 1,300 Britons on the start line.

The island is packed with mountain roads and hairpinsCredit:
2016 Getty Images/Bryn Lennon

Of course, to enjoy the Mallorcan roads you don't have to commit to organised events such as Mallorca 312. After all, if you did you would miss one the gems in the island's crown: Col de Cal Reis, or Sa Calobra as it is more commonly known.

Designed in the 1930s by Italian engineer Antonio Parietti who also to built the road from Port de Pollença to Cap de Formentor, is one of the most unique mountain roads in Europe. To cycle up the 9.9km climb, riders must first descend down towards the small fishing village of Sa Calobra before turning around and dragging yourself all the way back up again.

However, the climb, which has become a mecca for cyclists – particularly Britons after Sir Bradley Wiggins trained here in preparation for his 2012 Tour de France victory – is not to everyone's taste.

"I hate the fact that you have to down the hill just to turn around and go back over it," Laura Trott, the double Olympic track cycling champion, explained to me when once discussing her training schedule. "I'm hoping that one day the climb just breaks away from the island and when I go back in a couple of years it will have disappeared into the sea."

The fact that both track cyclists and grand tour riders choose to train here is not just some happy coincidence.